How to build a grass ski slope

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 418, 24 December 1991, Page 4

How to build a grass ski slope

Ohakune* s grass skiing slope is more than a paddock on a lean. Local man Phil Abel has been working on developing the slope, near Miro Park, for several years after taking it over from the previous owners when it was covered in sheep rats. Grass skiing started in Ohakune about eight years ago, but died a 'very rapid death - due to the rats. The area sat unused for about four years until Phil bought the land to develop it as an outdoor recreation area. He put a bulldozer to work reshaping and smoothing the slope of its rats. That turned out to be the easy part, with re-grassing the slope the difficult job. That was especially so with a very wet January following the work. It was not until the following summer that the grass coverage was good enough to ski on. The bulldozer was brought back to lengthen the slope and enlarge the flat 'slowing down' area, by filling a swamp, thanks to the co-operation of Miro Park Developer Paul Scarf. Top to bottom is now more than 150 metres with a speed start ramp for advanced grass skiers looking for a further challenge. The slope is serviced by a rope tow powered by a tractor jacket up on one side (an idea borrowed from a South Island club ski field).